The path narrowed as Alexander and Lira descended further into the Gorge, the oppressive energy of the place growing heavier with each step. The crimson veins lining the walls were no longer faint streaks—they throbbed with life, glowing brighter, as though the Gorge itself were alive and aware of their intrusion. The Essence in the air was suffocating, pressing down on them and forcing them to move cautiously.
Alexander's hand instinctively brushed against the shard at his side. Its warmth pulsed faintly, a steady rhythm that seemed to counter the erratic energy of the veins. The presence of the shard in his possession had become almost comforting, despite the whispers that occasionally echoed in his mind.
Lira walked a step behind him, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. Her usual confidence was replaced by a quiet tension. She didn't speak much, but her gaze flickered constantly between the glowing veins and the shadows that seemed to dance at the edges of the cavern.
"Can you feel that?" she finally asked, her voice low.
Alexander didn't turn around. "I feel it."
The shard at his side felt hotter now, as if it were responding to the energy in the air. He knew Lira could sense the same thing he did—a deep, thrumming presence that seemed to resonate with every pulse of the crimson veins.
"What do you think is causing it?" she asked.
"I don't know," Alexander replied honestly, his voice tinged with unease. "But it's getting stronger."
The path ahead grew narrower, forcing them to walk single file. The jagged walls of the cavern pressed closer, and the veins of crimson Essence glowed so brightly that they cast eerie shadows across the uneven ground. Alexander couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, though by what, he couldn't say.
After what felt like hours, the narrow path opened suddenly into a vast chamber. Alexander stopped in his tracks, Lira nearly bumping into him as she stepped forward to stand beside him. The space before them was enormous, its ceiling stretching high above and lost in darkness. Crimson stalactites hung down like the fangs of a great beast, dripping molten Essence onto the cavern floor. Each drop hit the ground with a sizzle, releasing a faint, acrid vapor that filled the air.
But it wasn't the size of the chamber that caught Alexander's attention. In the center of the cavern stood a colossal structure—a black stone altar that radiated power. Its surface was carved with intricate runes that glimmered faintly, their light pulsating in time with the veins that lined the walls.
"Is that... a temple?" Lira asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alexander didn't answer. His gaze was locked on the altar, his breath catching in his throat. It was exactly as he had seen in his vision. Every detail was the same—the black stone, the runes, the faint hum of energy that seemed to emanate from its core. The shard at his hip pulsed harder, tugging at him like a magnet.
"It's calling me," he muttered, taking an involuntary step forward.
Lira grabbed his arm, her grip firm. "Wait. We don't know what's waiting for us."
Her words brought him back to reality, and he stopped, his brow furrowing. She was right. The Gorge had already proven itself to be treacherous, and this chamber radiated a danger far greater than anything they had faced so far.
"I have to go," he said after a moment, his voice steady but filled with determination. "Whatever this place is, it's connected to the shard. If we're going to survive here, I need to understand it."
Lira hesitated, her fingers tightening on his arm before she finally let go. "Fine," she said, though her expression made it clear she wasn't happy about it. "But I'm not letting you go alone."
Alexander nodded, grateful for her presence even if he didn't say it aloud. Together, they approached the altar, their footsteps echoing softly in the cavern.
As soon as Alexander stepped onto the altar's base, the air around them shifted. The oppressive energy that had been pressing down on them intensified, growing heavier and colder. The runes on the altar flared to life, their glow illuminating the chamber in a blood-red light.
The ground beneath them trembled, and a deep, guttural sound echoed through the cavern. It wasn't a roar or a growl, but something far more primal—a sound that seemed to resonate with the very Essence of the Gorge itself.
"What was that?" Lira asked, her voice sharp.
Alexander didn't answer. His attention was focused on the altar, where the runes had begun to shift and change. They moved like liquid, rearranging themselves into new patterns that seemed to pulse in time with the shard at his side.
Suddenly, the light from the runes surged, blindingly bright. Alexander threw up his arm to shield his eyes, but the shard at his hip pulsed again, harder this time, and the light seemed to flow into him.
Visions flooded his mind—images of the Gorge as it once was, a place of beauty and power. He saw the altar standing at the center of a great temple, its runes shining with golden light. He saw figures cloaked in crimson Essence, their faces obscured but their power undeniable. And he saw the moment it all fell apart—an explosion of energy that ripped through the temple, shattering the altar and corrupting the land around it.
When the visions faded, Alexander was left gasping for breath, his body trembling. The shard at his side felt cool now, its energy spent, and the runes on the altar had returned to their original configuration.
"Alexander!" Lira's voice cut through the haze, and he turned to see her staring at him, concern etched across her face.
"I'm fine," he said, though his voice was hoarse. "I saw... something. The Gorge wasn't always like this. It was a sanctuary, a place of power. But something happened—something that destroyed it."
Lira frowned. "And now it's a death trap. Great. Any idea what caused it?"
He shook his head. "Not yet. But I think the shard is the key to figuring it out."
Before Lira could respond, the cavern trembled again, harder this time. The guttural sound from earlier returned, louder and more menacing, and Alexander felt a chill run down his spine.
"Something's coming," he said, his hand moving to the shard.
The walls of the chamber seemed to come alive, the crimson veins writhing and twisting as if in response to the altar's activation. From the shadows, shapes began to emerge—large, hulking forms that glowed with the same crimson light as the veins.
Lira drew her blade, her stance tense. "I knew it was too quiet in here," she muttered.
The creatures stepped into the light, revealing themselves fully. They were grotesque amalgamations of Essence, their bodies shifting between solid and liquid forms. Crimson veins pulsed across their skin, and their glowing eyes locked onto Alexander and Lira with a predatory hunger.
"Looks like we woke up the guards," Alexander said, drawing the shard from his hip. Its glow reignited, though it was dimmer than before.
Lira smirked, though her grip on her blade tightened. "Good. I was starting to get bored."
The first creature lunged, its body shifting into jagged spikes of Essence mid-attack. Alexander barely managed to dodge, the shard's energy guiding his movements. Lira countered with a swift strike, her blade slicing through the creature's limb.
It let out an ear-piercing screech but didn't fall. Instead, its form rippled, and two smaller creatures emerged from its body.
"Of course," Lira said through gritted teeth. "They multiply."
Alexander's mind raced as he dodged another attack. The shard pulsed, and he felt a strange pull toward the creatures' cores—clusters of glowing veins buried deep within their shifting masses.
"Go for the cores!" he shouted.
Lira didn't hesitate. She darted past one of the creatures, feinting left before driving her blade into its core. The veins ruptured, and the creature collapsed, its body dissolving into a pool of inert Essence.
Alexander followed suit, channeling the shard's energy into a concentrated strike. The light pierced the creature's core, shattering it instantly.
As the last creature fell, the cavern grew still once more, though the oppressive energy remained.
Breathing heavily, Alexander turned back to the altar. Whatever secrets the Gorge held, he knew they were only beginning to uncover them.